Filling-tube for bottle-filling machines.



No. 738,622. PATENTED `SEPT. 8.1903. S. c. MILLER.

FILLING TUBE EOE BOTTLE FILLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1902.

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'atented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL O. MILLER,l OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

FILLING-TUBE FOR BOTTLE-FILLING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patentl No.'738,622, dated September 8, 190B.

l Application iiled November 12, 1902. Serial No. 131,029. (No model.)

`Louisville,in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Filling-Tubefor Bottle-Filling Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to a class of bottleilling machines embodying a vertically-adjustable tank from which liquid is conducted downward through self-closing tubes into a number of bottles supported below the tank Improvements in this class of bottle-filling apparatus are shown in my Patent No. 654,016 and dated July 17,1900.

- The object of this invention is to provide improved filling-tubes for the bottle-filling machine specified that in suitable number may be employed for the indicated purpose, whereby these similar members of the machine are greatly improved in-operation.

The invention consists in the novel cons struction and combination of parts, as is herel an oblong receptacle having parallel side walls a and end walls a', an essentially level bottom wall b, and a transversely arched cover c, held secured upon the top of the tank` 4 body by bolts d., that pass through flanges e,

formed on the tank and cover. V p

In order to adapt the tank 10 for the verti cal movement necessary for the proper operation of the machine, it is usual in this class of bottle-filling apparatus to mount it uponl a suitable frameby a loose engagement of` the ends of the tank with vertical guides and support it by springs or other means which will permit the tank to receive adjustment in a vertical plane'when the operation of iilling bottles is in progress. As the means for supportand reciprocation of the tank 10 are not features of this invention, these details of a bottle-filling apparatus are not shown, it being understood that they may be constructed as may be preferred.

The bottle-filling tubes 11 of the improved construction that constitute the present inrangement, but one is shown in connection with the tank 10 and comprises the following details: The body of the tube 11 is of a suitable diameter to freely convey liquid from the tank. 10 and is so proportioned in length that when placed in avertical position in said tank a considerable portion of the tilling-tube will extend below the tank, while the remaining portion projects upward through the lower wall b ofthe tankand also throughadiaphragm-plate g into the cover c. In thisconstruction the cylindrical body7 of the iilling-tube l1 passes through a packing-box 12, that depends from the bottom b and provides a liquid-tight joint, wherein the filling-tube is held to reciprocate. A suitable number ot' apertures h are formed in the wall of the filling-tube and areV normally positioned in the body of the packingbox'12, the adjustment of the filling-tube to effect this disposal of the apertures h being eected by the coiled spring 13, that encircles said illing-tube and presses at its upper end against the diaphragm-plate g, while the lower end of the spring is seated upon a collar 14:, secured at a proper point on the filling-tube, and which defines the downward sliding movenient of the filling-tube. A guide-block 15, preferably shaped as shown, is secured by its lower end in an orifice in the diaphragmplate g, and in said guide-block a vertical chambert is formed, which receives the open upper end of the filling-tube 11. The shell or body of the lilling-tube 1l is also open at the flower end and receives the stem 1Ga of the' valve-head 16 therein. As shown, the valve-head is preferably conoidal, having an annular fiat top surface that surrounds the lower end of the stem 16, forming a true seat for the packing-ring m, that may engage the lower end of the illing-tube 1l and sealthe joint between it and the valve-head: The valve-stem 16a where itjoius thevalve-head 16 is diametricallyeularged, this enlargement n tapering upward until it merges into the body of the valve-stem, this construction serving to center the valve 16 when the llingtube is depressed to close the valve if the latvention being alike in construction and ar- ICO - ter is opened, as will behereinaftcr more fully described. The valve-stem 16 extends upwardly through the filling-tube 11 and also through the chamber r in the guide-block 15, having loose engagement within a perforation in the top wall of the guide-block, wherebythe valve-stern is held central in the'chamber t' and filling-tube 11. Upon the threaded upper end portion of the stem 16:L an adjustable nut o is screwed, which enables the scating of the valve-head 16 upon the lower end of the lling-tube 11.

Over the guide-block 15 foreach filling-tube 11 an aperture p is formed, which is covered by a cupped cap-piece c', secured upon the cover c, as shown, this cap-piece being provided to permit the valve-stem 16a to receive proper upwardmovement, as will be further explained.

An air-escape pipe 17 is placed in the fillingtube 11 at one side of the valve-stem 16 and extends from theopen upper end of said filling-tube down to a point near the lower end thereof, where a bend s is formed on the airescape pipe, directing its lowerextremity toward the side wall of the filling-tube and through a perforation therein, said end s of the pipe being secured air-tight in the wall of the tube 11. The upper end of the pipe 17 is open, so that air may pass freely through it, and thus conduct air into the chamber and to permit a free escape of air conducted upwardly by the pipe 17 a plurality of perforations r are formed in the side wall of the guide-block 15, which afford communication from the chamber t' into the space iuclosed between the dome-like cover c and the diaphragm-plate g.

Upon the filling-tube 1l below the tank 10 a sealing-head is adjustably mounted, consisting of a clamp 18, that may be held at a desired point on the tube 11 by a set-bolt u, a washer-plate 19, mounted upon the fillingtube below and in contact with the clamp 18, and an elastic block 2O in washer form that is slid upon the tube 11 and by its contraction clasps said tube, so as to remain in place when adjusted to have contact with the washer-plate 19.

In service each one of a setof the improved filling-tubes is inserted within the neck of a supported bottle that is to be filled, the sealing-block 20 being properly positioned on the tube, so that lowering of the tank 10 and insertion of the filling-tube into the neck of a bottle will first effect a contact of the block 20 with the upper end of an engaged bottle, (not shown), and upon a further depression of the tank 10, which will slide the tube 11 upwardly, the lower end of the said tube will be elevated correspondingly, thus carrying the openings h into thetank 10 for the free transfer of liquid from the tank down the The gravity of the valve-head 16 and valvestem V16a, together with that of the liquid passing downward from the tank 10, opens the valve at the bottom of the filling-tube by dropping the valve-head until the nut o contacts with the guide-block 15, so that the liquid from the tank may freely enter the bottle-neck engaged by the filling-tube. While filling the bottle air from the same escapes up the pipe 17 into the space in the tank-cover c, as before mentioned, and if air-pressure is formed in the receptacle it will be obvious that such pressure will be relieved by a downward flow of airwhen the tank is elevated and the filling-tube is removed from a filled bottle. In. conducting the filling operation the liquid willrise in the neck of the bottle until it covers the lower open end of the airescape pipe 17, which will arrest the flow of liquid from the tank, and this will leave a small vacancy in the upper portion of the bottle-neck, the extent of which may be determined by an adjustment of the sealingblock 20, such a vacancy being necessary to permit the insertion of a cork into the bottleneck. Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of a tank having a diaphragm dividing the same into an upper and a lower chamber, a hollow perforated guideblock l in the upper chamber, a filling-tube slidable in said guide-block, an air-tube extending through the filling-tube and discharging into the upper chamber through the apertures in the block,and a valve for the lling-tube adjustable from the guide-blocks, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bottle-filling machine, a liquid-tank having an arched cover or lid, a horizontal diaphragm forming with said lid an independent chamber, said diaphragm having an opening therein, a block fitting the sides of said opening and formed with an inner chamber, said latter chamber having openings in its walls forming communication between this chamber and the chamber first named, a filling-tube open at its upper end and slidable within the said block, an air-tube passing within the filling-tube and having its upper end opening into the chamber in the said block, and a valve normally closing the lower end of said filling-tube.

3. In a bottle-filling machine, a liquid-tank having an arched cover or lid, a horizontal diaphragm forming with said lid an independent chamber, said diaphragm having an opening therein, a -block fitting the sides of said opening and formed with an inner chamber, said latter chamber having openings in its walls forming communication between this chamber and the chamber first named, a fillingtube open at its upper end and slidable within the said block, an air-tube passing within the filling-tube and having its upper end opening into the chamberin the said block,

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the upper end forming aseat thereon, a-sealand a `valve normally closing the lower end of said filling-tube,` said valve having a stein extending through the chamber in the block, and provided with adjusting devices therefor Vlocated beyond the upper end of the block.

4; The combination with a supply-tank, a diaphragm-plate, a dome-cover holding the t i diaphragm-plate clamped on said tank, and

ing-joint between said valve and the lower end of the filling-tube, a valve-stem extending centrally from the top of the ooniforrn` valve up through the perforated top wall of the guide-block, an adjustable nut screwed upon the threaded upper end of the valvestem, and an air-escape pipe held in the filling-tube at one side of the central valve-stem, and tapping the wall of said tube near the lower end thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my f name to this specification in thepresenoe of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL C. MILLER.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH A. HAMMER, Louis H. FRANCKE. 

